Jury Convicts Texas man of hate crime in the burning of Texas mosque

SCREEN CAPTURE / CBS

A new mosque is being built in Victoria, Texas.

IT TOOK less than three hours Monday (July 16) for the jury to come back with a verdict saying a man committed a hate crime when he burned down a mosque in Victoria, Texas last year.

The jury found Marq Vincent Perez, 26, of Victoria, guilty for a hate crime in the burning of the Victoria Islamic Center on Jan. 28, 2017, and for use of a fire to commit a felony. In addition, they found he possessed an unregistered destructive device for an incident that occurred on Jan. 15, 2017.

“This is a statement from our country, from the USA, showing everyone is equal under the law. This verdict shows that this country upholds the law, whether you are a minority or majority,” Abe Ajrami, treasurer for the Victoria mosque, said Monday at the entrance to the federal courthouse moments after the verdict was announced.

“Justice has been served,” said Omar Rachid, a longtime mosque member who testified during the trial. “We are a land of laws.

“All people are entitled to live free from violence and fear, regardless of their religion or place of worship,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “Perez’s actions were criminal, unlawful, and dangerous. This Justice Department is committed to holding hate crimes perpetrators accountable under the law.”

The jury heard from a total of 19 government witnesses, including law enforcement officers, experts, and others who testified about communications with Perez, one of whom detailed how Perez called Muslims “towelheads.” An FBI agent took the stand and described hate-filled messages found on Perez’s Facebook account.  

Testimony in court detailed how Perez planned the event and revealed how he had done “recon” of the mosque in the days leading up to the fire. A witness who was with Perez on the night of the fire described how excited Perez was upon seeing the mosque in flames, explaining that he was “jumping up and down like a little kid.”

Additional evidence presented in court revealed that items taken during two burglaries at the mosque were found at his home, and also an improvised bomb similar to what was used in an attempted car-bombing approximately two weeks prior to the fire.

The jury also heard from an arson expert who concluded the fire was the result of an “intentional application of an open flame.”

Perez faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the hate crime and up to 10 years for possessing an unregistered destructive device. For use of a fire to commit a felony, the penalty is a consecutive and mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. All of the counts also carry a potential $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been set for October 2.

“Hate crimes are not only an attack on a specific victim, they threaten the cornerstone of diversity that America was built upon,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner. “Perpetrators of hate crimes, like Perez, aim to chip away at our nation’s foundations by instilling fear into entire communities with violence.”

While Ajrami said the jury's decision left him with optimism, he also admitted to suffering emotional trauma to the Victoria Advocate.

“Especially when the kids are around, I personally pray with my ears open, hoping not to hear the click of a weapon,” he said. “I often listen ... to ceremonies with my back against the wall, watching the front door. Anytime you smell something burning, it brings back the memories.”

_______________________________________________________________________________